Hydrocycle



J. c. JOHNSON HYDROGYCLE Filed Novf14. 1925 S \\v Q l E July 20 1926.

WITNESS:

ateiiesl .lilly 2G, 1926.

yJiissii c. aotrit'son, or DLRY, rnoiiiinii.

' HYDROCYCLE.

v Application filed November The object of this invention is to provide a device which may be used by life guards and swimmers, and may also be used purely for amusement, the device including an air tank suitably proportioned for supporting a rider on a saddle carried by the tank, and including driving mechanism and guiding means.

A further object is to provide a device of this kind with horizontal and vertical rndders, permitting of lateral and vertical control, or depth control, and driving mechanism including a propeller and a shaft and gearing to be driven by cranks and pedals, as in the case of a bicycle.

I/vlith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of element described, illustrated and claimed, it being understood that modificationsV may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming part of this application,

Figure 1 shows the device in longitudinal section.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section on line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure '3 is a section through the housing for the gearing, between the pedal cranks and the propeller shaft. Y In carryingout the invention, I employ an air tank 10 having tapered end portions 11 and 12 and being proportioned to support a rider, a saddle 13 being provided for this purpose.V

The driving mechanism is suspended below the tank by means of straps or the like shown at 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18. These straps or a portion of them include, or have connected therewith extension straps 15', 16 and 17', some of the extensions having direct connection with the gear housing as shown in Figure 2, where the housing is designated 20.

The extension straps or elements 17 have connection with a bearing 22 for propeller shaft 23, this shaft also passing through bearings 24 in the wall of the housing 25 for the gearing. A lower horizontal brace or tie member is shown at 26, and other braces are illustrated at 27 and 28, the pur- 14, 1925. Serial No. 69,091.

the connection being designated 36, and the blade being normally horizontal when the device is to be maintained on a given level.

The blade or rudder 35 is controlled by a rod 36 and lever 37 pivoted at 38. A tube 39 serves a purpose similar tothat of the tube 33.

The propeller 40 carried by the shaft 23 is driven by a gearing similar to that of a standard type of bicycle, the gearing including pinion 41, gear wheels 42 and a transverse shaft 43. The pedals, or the cranks therefor are designated 44 and 45, in Figure 3, and the pedals per se are shown in the other views and are theredesignated 46.

The operation of the device will be fully understood without further description, and it is clear that the tank may be of such a size, or of different sizes, in different machines or devices, to permit of carrying one or more passengers.

IVhat is claimed is 1. In a device of the character described, an air tank, tubular members extending therethrough and open exteriorly thereof, shafts extending through the tubular members, vertical and horizontal blades, controlled respectively by the shafts and mounted below the tank, a propeller, and means for imparting motion to the propeller.

2. In a device of the character described, an air tank, tubular members extending therethrough and open exteriorly thereof, shafts extending through the tubular members, vertical and horizontal blades controlled respectively by the shafts and mounted below the tank, a propeller, and

vertical blade, and

CII

foot power operated means for driving the propeller.

3. In a device of the character described, an air tank, a saddle carried thereby, a pr0- peller, driving means for the propeller, straps surrounding the tank and extending below the latter for suspending` the driving means and propeller below the tank, rudders mounted below the tank, tubular elements extending through the tank and open at their upper and lower ends, exteriorly of the tank, shafts extending through the tubular elements, and means for controlling the shafts and rudders.

ln testimony whereof l atlix my signature.

JESSE C. JOHN/SON. 

